Kavanaugh appointment 'to reverse civil right gains', groups warn

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Rights groups in the United States have sharply criticised the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, warning that the appointment of President Donald Trump's pick would reverse hard-earned civil liberties for African Americans, women and other groups, AL Jazeera reports.

Trump on Monday chose Kavanaugh, who sits on the Federal Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit, to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.

If confirmed by the Senate, the 53-year old Kavanaugh is poised to remain on the bench for years to come, cementing conservative control in the country's top judicial body.

Currently, the court has a 5-4 majority of conservative justices, with 81-year-old Kennedy - who announced his retirement late last month - having been the crucial swing vote on a number of important decisions. In theory, the court can vote either way on any issue, but a Kavanaugh confirmation would swing it more consistently to the right.